“Then the king, when he heard these words, was much distressed and set his mind to deliver Daniel. And he labored till the sun went down to rescue him.
Then these men came by agreement to the king and said to the king, “Know, O king, that it is a law of the Medes and Persians that no injunction or ordinance that the king establishes can be changed.”
Then the king commanded, and Daniel was brought and cast into the den of lions. The king declared to Daniel, “May your God, whom you serve continually, deliver you!” Daniel 6: 14-16
What Is Your Lion?
In our society we’re not going to see someone thrown in the fiery furnace or lion’s den for breaking a law. However, we do face lions of other kinds:
- a chronic illness
- loss of a job
- divorce or struggling marriage
- a defiant child
- loss of a spouse
And many other struggles that could devour us if we let them. I believe God placed the story of Daniel’s lion’s den experience in our Bible to not only provide the miracle of closing the lion’s jaws but to also show us that He’ll keep us from being devoured no matter what ferocious beast we’re facing. When Satan brings us face to face with something that could tear us apart–and God delivers us–our faith soars!
My epilepsy used to be a ferocious lion that I feared. I was determined to fight it, which I still do, but I was doing it my way. Exhausting myself, trying to keep every trigger in line, I would count the days that I didn’t have a seizure. I lived for the day I could say I was finally seizure free and had “my” life back. Not for one second did I consider that perhaps God had allowed this illness so I could be a walking testimony of His grace under pressure.
Grace Under Pressure
Daniel is an example of God’s stunning grace under this world’s harshest pressure. Daniel refused to bow to his cultural demands and honored God without compromise. Daniel sought Yahweh’s direction to keep that direct line of communication open and then allowed God to work on his behalf.
Have you ever noticed that if you don’t have quiet time with God, things are more off-kilter than normal? (Not even things you have any control over.) Kids are grouchier. The coffee pot doesn’t work. The car won’t start. You find a flat tire as you go out to start the car–usually on a Monday morning, no less.
Please don’t misunderstand me, I am not saying that keeping an open line of communication with God will close the mouths of ALL the lions you’re facing. What I am saying is that by having that open line of communication, whatever lions you are facing will be bearable.
One last thought. What if Daniel HAD BEEN devoured by the lions? Just like when Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego faced the fiery furnace, Daniel went willingly into the lion’s den, trusting God would handle the outcome–whatever that would be. Even if Daniel had been devoured by those lions, his faith was strong enough to carry him through.
How about you? Do you know that Yahweh is a good God who loves you–regardless of the lions in your life?
